Thousand-Year Sword God of the Old Land

The night was deep. Dark clouds spread across the sky like thick ink, blotting out most of the moonlight. Through the overlapping shadows, thin strands of light filtered through, illuminating the way home for the world below.

Li Qingshan descended in a streak of sword energy. His body was light, and the aura circulating around him had grown ever more profound. It was clear that after cultivating the [Grass and Wood Sword Technique], his cultivation had improved considerably.

"Senior Brother, how did your cultivation advance so quickly?" The moment he landed, Li Qingshan saw Li Jiusheng and was greatly startled. The last time he had come, his senior brother had only achieved Withered Wood Meets Spring and was still in the Houtian Realm. Now, he had actually built the Xiantian Bridge and condensed a Golden Core.

"Having lived a Second Life, naturally I had to be different from my previous one," Li Jiusheng said lightly, offering no explanation.

Li Qingshan had no intention of pressing further. Everyone had their own secrets. Ever since his senior brother had taught him the [Grass and Wood Sword Technique], he had felt that this ordinary-seeming senior brother was different. Back then, he had even used powerful methods to inspect his senior brother from head to toe, not even sparing his soul. Only after finding no issue had he been reassured.

After all, books and legends were full of cases of Body Seizing Rebirth, awakening Past Life Wisdom, or being reborn from decay. Yet a reborn soul no longer retained its former personality, which was no different from killing one's past self. That was something Li Qingshan could not accept.

Fortunately, the senior brother before him, who had lived a Second Life, was still the same senior brother who had loved and cared for him as a child and treated him as family. Since that was the case, there was no need to ask more. He only needed to be happy for him.

"You busy man, how did you find the time to come here tonight?" Li Jiusheng looked at Li Qingshan and asked with a smile.

Li Qingshan said, "I haven't seen Senior Brother in a long time. I missed you, so I came."

"It wasn't just because you missed me. You have something on your mind." Li Jiusheng studied Li Qingshan seriously and saw right through him.

Li Qingshan raised an eyebrow. "Was it that obvious?"

"Not at all. Outsiders would never see through it. But don't I know you? You've been like this since childhood. Whenever something troubles you, you don't say it. You bury it in your heart and try to solve it alone. When nothing is weighing on you, you're relaxed, laughing and joking, never serious. But once you have something on your mind, you become increasingly calm, like an ancient deep pool, impossible to fathom." Li Jiusheng pointed out Li Qingshan's flaw in character.

Li Qingshan laughed freely. "Senior Brother really does know me best. No one else noticed that I had something on my mind. They all thought that after I killed Zhang Wudao and inherited the position of Sect Master of Shangqing Palace, I should be riding high and happier than ever."

Li Jiusheng said nothing and led Li Qingshan back to the Scripture Repository Pavilion.

In the tea room, steam curled through the air as the water boiled. Li Jiusheng poured Li Qingshan a cup of tea. The two senior and junior brothers looked through the window at the mountains and lands outside. Neither spoke. They first took several sips of tea.

"Is it because of Emperor Wu of Zhou?" Li Jiusheng suddenly asked.

Li Qingshan raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Senior Brother, how did you know?"

Li Jiusheng took a sip of tea and pondered. "Everyone thinks you ought to be in high spirits right now, yet you're hiding your worries. Whatever can trouble you and keep your brows tightly furrowed must be no small matter. After thinking it over, the only possibility is Zhang Wudao's Master—the Emperor Wu of Zhou, who has been tyrannical for centuries and bears countless grudges against Shangqing Palace."

Li Qingshan nodded, saying admiringly, "Senior Brother is indeed Senior Brother. You're right. Emperor Wu of Zhou is what has been troubling me."

Li Jiusheng frowned. "Zhang Wudao has been dead for some time now. The Supreme Dao has shown no reaction whatsoever. People say Emperor Wu of Zhou is still in seclusion because of Li Tianxian's sword strike and has no time to concern himself with anything else. Why are you worried?"

Li Qingshan shook his head and explained, "What people say is nothing but rumors passed from mouth to mouth. The Supreme Dao has indeed shown no reaction to Zhang Wudao's death, but the more silent they are, the more terrifying it is."

Li Jiusheng pondered. "You fear the Supreme Dao is holding back, and that Emperor Wu of Zhou may emerge from seclusion and come kill us at any moment?"

Li Qingshan set down his teacup. "Senior Brother, everyone says Emperor Wu of Zhou entered seclusion for a hundred years because of the sword Li Tianxian unleashed before her death. Do you believe that too?"

Li Jiusheng frowned. "Isn't that the case?"

Using his comprehension, he had perceived the scene of Li Tianxian's final moments. She had struck at Emperor Wu of Zhou's Ancestor foundation with a single sword. How could it be false?

Li Qingshan shook his head. "Li Tianxian was an unparalleled sword immortal, with talent beyond anyone's reach. I absolutely believe she could injure Emperor Wu of Zhou before her death. But to say that one sword from Li Tianxian made an Ancestor remain in seclusion for centuries, afraid to emerge even now—that is absolutely impossible."

Li Jiusheng fell into thought. Upon careful consideration, that did seem to be the case.

Li Tianxian was a Peerless Sword Immortal. Before reaching the Ancestor Realm, she had comprehended the Ancestor-level [Grass and Wood Sword Technique]. She was truly legendary.

But that did not mean Emperor Wu of Zhou was weak. He too possessed supreme talent and an invincible bearing. He had swept aside Cultivators of his generation, attained the Ancestor Realm, and stood unrivaled in his era.

In terms of achievement, Li Tianxian had been hailed as an Ancestor Seedling, while Emperor Wu of Zhou had truly become an Ancestor. For Li Tianxian to wound him was already an extraordinary feat. Saying she had slashed him into a hundred years of seclusion, too afraid to emerge, was clearly an exaggeration.

"Then why hasn't Emperor Wu of Zhou emerged from seclusion? With his overbearing and tyrannical nature, he could not possibly remain indifferent after the disciple he had placed such high hopes on was killed," Li Jiusheng asked.

Li Qingshan's expression turned grave as he said softly, "That is exactly what worries me. During this time, I have been searching for information and records on this matter, and I truly discovered the reason Emperor Wu of Zhou has not emerged from seclusion."

Li Jiusheng immediately refilled Li Qingshan's tea and listened attentively.

"Emperor Wu of Zhou first appeared four hundred years ago and became active in the cultivation world. He acted without restraint, crushing opponents all the way and remaining undefeated wherever he went. That forged his invincible aura. In the end, he defeated the younger generation of the Old Land and earned the title of one of the Four Emperors," Li Qingshan recounted.

"The Four Emperors?" Li Jiusheng raised an eyebrow. There were actually four peerless experts like Emperor Wu of Zhou?

"Yes, the Four Emperors. It referred to the Four Peerless Experts among the younger generation of the cultivation world, experts who even surpassed the older generation and were hailed as the Four Ancestor Seedlings," Li Qingshan said.

"Emperor Wu of Zhou agreed to that?" Li Jiusheng asked skeptically. With Emperor Wu of Zhou's utterly domineering temperament, could he willingly share fame with three others?

Wouldn't he kill the other three and stand alone at the top?

"Of course he didn't agree. The Four Emperors were Emperor Wu of Zhou, the Thousand-Year Sword God of the Old Land, Buddhist Rulai, and the Daoist Ancestor."

"Each of them was a peerless genius who suppressed an entire era. Emperor Wu of Zhou fought Buddhist Rulai fiercely and competed in Daoist arts with the Daoist Ancestor, yet he could not defeat either of them. Left with no choice, he could only acknowledge the title of the Four Emperors," Li Qingshan said.

"That's not right. What about the Thousand-Year Sword God of the Old Land? Didn't he fight him?" Li Jiusheng asked curiously.

"Emperor Wu of Zhou was tyrannical and arrogant throughout his life. He had very few friends, and only one person ever earned his recognition—the Thousand-Year Sword God of the Old Land," Li Qingshan explained.

Li Jiusheng was surprised. He had thought Emperor Wu of Zhou was completely alone. He had not expected him to have a friend.

"Then where is this Thousand-Year Sword God of the Old Land now?" Li Jiusheng asked.

"He's dead. He died at Emperor Wu of Zhou's hands." Li Qingshan shook his head, sounding deeply regretful.

"Ah..." Li Jiusheng looked at Li Qingshan in astonishment.